Steve Whitmire

Whitmire first appeared (unpaid) at a pre-show event at Six Flags Over Georgia. He performed with his then alter-ego puppet Otis for the children waiting to see a multimedia show.

Before graduating high school, Whitmire had his first "professional" puppeteering job using Otis at "The World of Sid & Marty Krofft" in Atlanta, the first indoor theme park. From there Whitmire appeared on local Atlanta TV live for 2 1/2 hours every day on "The Kids Show with Otis" taking telephone calls from children and adults. The show received more than 2000 calls per hour. WATL was owned at that time by former Atlanta children's television host "Officer Don" Kennedy. Otis made appearances on various WATL 36 shows with Atlanta's Ludlow Porch, performing with the Georgia Bulldogs' Larry Munson, Don Kennedy, and Entertainment Page host Artie Goodman. As Otis, Whitmire interviewed Olivia Newton-John during a tour promoting an album.

He worked with puppets after graduating high school, and eventually got a job working on The Muppet Show in 1978. Since then, Whitmire performed in almost every major Henson company project, including non-Muppet projects such as The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and Dinosaurs.{{cite news|title = What It Was Like to Star in ABC's Family Sitcom 'Dinosaurs|url = https://www.yahoo.com/tv/what-it-was-like-to-star-in-abcs-family-sitcom-232638308.html|last = Alter|first = Ethan|date = March 24, 2016|work = YahooTV|access-date = May 10, 2017|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160814110002/https://www.yahoo.com/tv/what-it-was-like-to-star-in-abcs-family-sitcom-232638308.html|archive-date = August 14, 2016|df = mdy-all}}

File:Steve Whitmire 2014.jpg

Whitmire was the second performer of two signature Muppets—Kermit the Frog and Ernie—after the death of their creator and original performer Jim Henson (with whom he shared a birthday) in 1990.{{cite news|title = Read This: What's it like to take Jim Henson's place?|url = http://www.avclub.com/article/read-whats-it-take-jim-hensons-place-225152|last = Cosores|first = Philip|date = September 10, 2015|work = The A.V. Club|access-date = May 10, 2017|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030004302/http://www.avclub.com/article/read-whats-it-take-jim-hensons-place-225152|archive-date = October 30, 2016|df = mdy-all}} Whitmire was personally asked by Brian Henson and Jane Henson to be Kermit's performer a few weeks after Jim Henson's death. Heather Henson arranged for a Kermit puppet to be sent to Whitmire's residence; however, Whitmire hid the puppet away for weeks before deciding on taking on the role.{{cite news|last1=Irwin|first1=Jon|title=On the Other Hand|url=http://blog.longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/|access-date=September 22, 2015|work=Longreads|date=September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060158/http://blog.longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/|archive-date=September 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last=Plume|first=Kenneth|title=Muppet Central Articles - Interviews: Steve Whitmire|url=http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/whitmire1.shtml|website=muppetcentral.com|access-date=January 6, 2018|date=July 19, 1999}} Following Richard Hunt's death and Jerry Nelson's retirement, Whitmire took over the roles of Beaker and Statler, respectively.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rac9xis0BIgC&pg=PA220|title=Kermit Culture: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson's Muppets|last=Garlen|first=Jennifer|date=September 10, 2015|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc|pages=220–221|isbn=9780786453757|access-date=April 10, 2014}} In 2014, Billy Barkhurst took over the role of Ernie,{{cite web|title=Season 46 Billy - Season 46|url=http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season46/behind-the-scenes/puppeteer-bios/billy-2/|website=www.sesameworkshop.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118145105/http://www.sesameworkshop.org/season46/behind-the-scenes/puppeteer-bios/billy-2/|archive-date=November 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}} with Peter Linz taking over that role in 2017.

Muppet characters original to Whitmire include Rizzo the Rat,{{cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/The-Muppets/Rizzo-the-Rat/ |title=Voice Of Rizzo the Rat |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=April 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228170751/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/The-Muppets/Rizzo-the-Rat/ |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite web |first=Stacy |last=Conradt |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/20492/stories-behind-20-muppet-favorites |title=The Stories Behind 20 Muppet Favorites |publisher=Mental Floss |date=January 1, 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103120850/http://mentalfloss.com/article/20492/stories-behind-20-muppet-favorites |archive-date=January 3, 2014 |df=mdy-all}} Lips (the trumpet player from Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem), Miss Piggy's dog Foo-Foo, Wembley Fraggle and Sprocket the Dog on Fraggle Rock, and Bean Bunny, a character that originated in The Tale of the Bunny Picnic (1986).

Whitmire voiced Link Hogthrob in the Muppet RaceMania and Muppets Party Cruise video games. He also performed Link for the 2011 film The Muppets. This was the first speaking appearance of the character since the death of Jim Henson, the original performer of Link. He also performed him in Muppets Most Wanted. In 2008, Whitmire took over another of Jim Henson's roles, The Muppet Newsman.

File:Raleigh Supercon 2018 Steve Whitmire Q&A 34.jpg

In July 2017, The Muppets Studio announced that Whitmire was no longer involved with the Muppets and that fellow Muppet performer Matt Vogel was cast as Kermit's new performer.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/longtime-kermit-frog-voice-actor-replaced-27-years-1019780|title=Longtime Kermit the Frog Voice Actor Replaced After 27 Years|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 10, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712063608/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/longtime-kermit-frog-voice-actor-replaced-27-years-1019780|archive-date=July 12, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Whitmire stated that he was dismissed from his roles in October 2016 because of undisclosed issues that he said had not been discussed before his dismissal. In their decision-making, Disney (the parent company of The Muppets Studio) consulted the Henson family, who supported the recasting of Kermit and Whitmire's dismissal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/arts/television/kermit-the-frog-disney-firing.html|title=Kermit the Frog Performer and Disney Spar Over an Ugly 'Muppet' Firing|last1=Dab|first1=Sopan|date=July 17, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717230725/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/arts/television/kermit-the-frog-disney-firing.html|archive-date=July 17, 2017|url-status=live|last2=Haigney|first2=Sophie|df=mdy-all}}

Brian Henson stated that issues with Whitmire began in the mid-1990s, and said that Whitmire would make "outrageous demands and often played brinkmanship", mentioning that "Steve would use 'I am now Kermit and if you want the Muppets, you better make me happy because the Muppets are Kermit.' And that is really not OK."{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-hensons-son-explains-why-kermit-actor-was-replaced-character-could-use-change-1022041|title=Jim Henson's Son Explains Why Kermit Actor Was Replaced|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 18, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718223746/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jim-hensons-son-explains-why-kermit-actor-was-replaced-character-could-use-change-1022041|archive-date=July 18, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} He additionally stated that Whitmire would "send emails and letters attacking everyone, attacking the writing and attacking the director". He also expressed guilt for not dismissing Whitmire and recasting Kermit before selling the Muppets to Disney in 2004, "because I knew that it was going to be a real problem". Lisa Henson stated that Whitmire was opposed to having an understudy for Kermit and refused to train one, which became problematic when it came to "B-level performances, such as a ribbon-cutting," at some of which she said he was unwilling to appear. She also stated that he "blackballed young performers" by refusing to appear in shows with them.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that same month, Whitmire stated he was dismissed for disagreements over Kermit's characterization and prolonged labor union negotiations between Disney and SAG-AFTRA (of which Whitmire is a member) that delayed his involvement in Muppet productions.{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-says-fired-kermit-frog-actor-unacceptable-business-conduct-1021701|title=Disney Says It Fired Kermit the Frog Actor Over "Unacceptable Business Conduct"|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 17, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 17, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717195041/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-says-fired-kermit-frog-actor-unacceptable-business-conduct-1021701|archive-date=July 17, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Whitmire alleged that Disney offered him what he called "consolation prizes" if he voluntarily left, including honoring him as a Disney Legend, under the public pretense that he would be retiring from performing.{{Cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/20/kermit-frog-steve-whitmire-fired-outspoken/|title=Kermit the Frog actor blames firing on 'being outspoken'|last=Bacle|first=Ariana|date=July 20, 2017|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 20, 2017}} In a statement released to The New York Times, Debbie McClellan, then-head of The Muppets Studio, said that they "raised concerns about Steve’s repeated unacceptable business conduct over a period of many years, and he consistently failed to address the feedback". Whitmire expressed an interest in making amends and resuming his role with the Muppets in the future if possible.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kermit-frog-muppeteer-says-he-was-fired-by-disney-1020466|title=Kermit the Frog Muppeteer Says Disney Fired Him|last=Parker|first=Ryan|date=July 13, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713213313/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kermit-frog-muppeteer-says-he-was-fired-by-disney-1020466|archive-date=July 13, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://stevewhitmire-muppetpundit.com/2017/07/11/its-time-to-get-things-started/|title=It's Time To Get Things Started…|last=Whitmire|first=Steve|date=July 13, 2017|website=Muppet Pundit|publisher=Steve Whitmire|access-date=July 13, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713020239/https://stevewhitmire-muppetpundit.com/2017/07/11/its-time-to-get-things-started/|archive-date=July 13, 2017|df=mdy-all}}{{Citation|title=Fired Kermit The Frog Puppeteer: It Was 'A Huge Shock' {{!}} TODAY|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdCVLPTiYtg|language=en|access-date=2021-02-22}}

In June 1978, Whitmire married his wife Melissa. They met during his senior year at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia.{{Cite web|last=Irwin|first=Jon|date=September 2015|title=On the Other Hand|url=https://longreads.com/2015/09/10/on-the-other-hand/|access-date=August 4, 2020|website=longreads.com|publisher=Automattic}}{{cite web|last=Hennes|first=Joe|title=My Week with Steve: Day 4|url=http://www.toughpigs.com/my-week-with-steve-day-4/|publisher=ToughPigs.com|access-date=April 2, 2014|date=October 15, 2008}} They live in Atlanta, Georgia.

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{IMDb name|0926209}}
• {{Muppets}}

{{s-start}}

{{succession box

| before = None

| title = Performer of Rizzo the Rat

| years = 1980–2016

| after = None}}

{{succession box

| before = None

| title = Performer of Lips

| years = 1980–2016

| after = Peter Linz}}

{{succession box

| before = None

| title = Performer of Wembley Fraggle

| years = 1983–2012

| after = Kevin Clash}}

{{succession box

| before = Jim Henson

| title = Performer of Kermit the Frog

| years= 1990–2016

| after= Matt Vogel}}

{{succession box

| before = Richard Hunt

| title = Performer of Beaker

| years= 1992–2016

| after= David Rudman}}

{{succession box

| before = Jim Henson

| title = Performer of Ernie

| years= 1993–2014

| after= Billy Barkhurst}}

{{succession box

| before = Brian Henson

| title = Performer of Andy Pig{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-18|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=List of Muppets#Andy and Randy Pig|reason= The anchor (Andy and Randy Pig) has been deleted.}}

| years = 1996–2016

| after = Bill Barretta}}

{{succession box

| before = Jim Henson

| title = Performer of Link Hogthrob

| years= 2000–2016

| after= Peter Linz}}

{{succession box

| before = Jerry Nelson

| title = Performer of Statler

| years= 2002–2016

| after= Peter Linz}}

{{succession box

| before = Brian Henson

| title = Performer of The Muppet Newsman

| years = 2008–2016

| after = Eric Jacobson}}

{{succession box

| before = None

| title = Performer of Sprocket

| years = 1983-1987

| after = John Tartaglia}}

{{s-end}}

{{The Muppets}}

{{Sesame Street}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitmire, Steve}}

Category:1959 births

Category:American puppeteers

Category:Living people